Círio De Nazaré

The Círio de Nazaré is a Catholic religious celebration, originating from Portuguese colonizers, involving processions (pilgrimages) in devotion to Our Lady of Nazareth, held in the Brazilian city of Belém (state of Pará). It has been observed annually since 1793, on the second Sunday of October, and currently attracts approximately two million participants.

The devotion traces its roots to Portugal, where it is observed on September 8 in the town of Nazaré. In Brazil, it was originally an evening or nighttime pilgrimage, which explains the use of candles. In 1854, to avoid the heavy rainfall that had occurred the previous year, the procession was moved to the morning.

The Círio began in 1793 in Belém, and until 1882, it started from the Government Palace. In 1882, Bishop Antônio de Macedo Costa, in agreement with the Province President, Justino Ferreira Carneiro, decided the procession would begin at the Our Lady of Grace Cathedral in Belém.

The Círio is the largest Catholic event in Brazil and one of the largest peaceful gatherings of its kind globally. In 2004, it was designated as intangible cultural heritage by the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN) and, in 2013, recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The event also takes place in other parts of the Northern Region, including Macapá, Rio Branco, and Manaus, as well as in various other Brazilian regions due to migration from Pará, where processions are held to maintain a connection to Belém through acts of faith.